Anthurium plant named Molly

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Anthurium plant named `Molly` particularly characterized by its round or elliptical red spathes each with a red-orange spadix which are held straight above the foliage on sturdy red-orange peduncles. Its leaves are very stiff, leathery, distinctly smooth, and somewhat glossy. The leaf petioles are short, rigid, and straight thereby giving plants of `Molly` a very compact appearance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofAnthurium, botanically known as Anthurium scherzerianum, and referred toby the cultivar name `Molly`.

The new cultivar `Molly` is a product of a breeding program carried outby the inventor Renate Plate in Bremen, Germany. The cultivar is theresult of a cross of selected but unnamed parentage made by the inventorin Bremen, Germany, with the new cultivar being discovered by theinventor from the progeny of the stated cross. Asexual propagation bytissue culture done under the supervision of the inventor in Bremen,Germany was used to increase the number of plants for evaluation and hasdemonstrated the stability of the combination of characteristics fromgeneration to generation.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed to be characteristicswhich in combination distinguish `Molly` from other Anthuriumscherzerianum cultivars and from the cultivar `Shazzam`, disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. P.P. 9,169.

1. Plants of `Molly` produce durable cupped elliptical red spathes, witha red-orange spadix. Plants of `Shazzam`, by comparison, produce largerred-orange spathes.

2. Unlike, `Shazzam`, spathes of `Molly` are held straight above thefoliage on sturdy red-orange peduncles.

3. The spathes of `Molly` are red, with the color darkening with age.

4. The leaves of `Molly` are very stiff, leathery, moderately thick,distinctly smooth, and somewhat glossy. Leaves of `Shazzam`, bycomparison, are more flexible, more textured and less glossy.

5. The leaf petioles of `Molly` are short, rigid, and straight, givingthe plant a very compact appearance when compared to `Shazzam`.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Apopka, Fla. under greenhouse conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in horticultural practice.

All color references are measured against The Royal HorticulturalSociety colour chart. Colors are approximate as color depends onhorticultural practices such as light level and fertilization rate,among others, without, however, any change in genotype.

The color photographic drawing comprises a top perspective view of theinflorescence and foliage of a plant of `Molly` in a 15.2 cm pot. Thephotograph was taken approximately 10 months after planting a16-week-old liner obtained by tissue culture and grown under appropriategrowing conditions. Colors are as accurate as possible with colorillustrations of this type.

Origin: Seedling of selected parentage.

Classification: Anthurium scherzerianum, cv, `Molly`.

Propagation: Asexual production either by tissue culture or division.

Inflorescence: The spathe is tightly rolled aroung the spadix andemerges from the petiole sheath. The spathe is fully open about when thepedicel is fully elongated, approximately 16 cm to 20 cm above the soilsurface. The color of the peduncle is greener than but closest to 183A-178 A, often becoming near red 43 A-B adjacent the base of the spathe.

Color.--Upper surface: 42 A, 46 B when mature. Lower surface: 42 A andglossy, 46 C when mature.

Arrangement.--The spathes stand up straight on tough wiry peduncles andopen above the leaves.

Shape.--The spathe is elliptical to round with an obtuse to cordate baseand a cuspidate tip that is hooked. It is distinctly cupped when new andoften reflexed with age. The spathes are approximately 5.3 cm to 8.0 cmin length, approximately 5.0 cm to 7.4 cm in width, and approximately1.3 cm in depth just after opening.

Flowering time.--Afer approximately 10 months from a 16-week-old linerfor an untreated plant having three growing points as illustrated in thecolor photograph, and depending on season, approximately 3 to 5inflorescences are present. First flowers (1 to 3) can be expectedapproximately 4 months after planting a 16-week-old liner.

Reproductive organs:

Spadix.--Size: Approximately 3.6 cm to 5.6 cm in length andapproximately 6 mm in width. The spadix is straight, often becomingslightly curved with age.Color: The spadix is 33 A-B when new, and 42A-B when fully emerged. Stamens: Anthers and filaments are minute, andnot clearly visible. Pollen: 158 C in color. Pistil: Translucent, 33 Din color, protruding between the staminate flowers, firmly fixed to themain axil. The pistilate flowers extend approximately 0.5 mm beyond thestaminate flowers.

General appearance: Under appropriate growing conditions, the maturesize of `Molly` is approximately 16 cm to 20 cm in height andapproximately 33 cm to 42 cm in width.

Leaves:

Form.--The leaf blade is lanceolate to ovate with an acuminate tip andan obtuse to cordate base. The margins are entire. The midrib isstraight over the length of the leaf. The leaf blade is flat or oftenfolded upwaard from the midrib. The leaf margin is straight. The upperleaf surface is somewhat glossy, particularly on newly emerged leaves.The leaves are very stiff, leathery, and moderately thick.

Size.--Leaf blades of a mature sized plant are approximately 15.7 cm to20.2 cm in length and approximately 7.7 cm to 9 cm in width.

Veins.--Veins are sunken, and the leaf surface is slightly concave orflat between veins. The midrib protrudes from the upper surface of theleaf for approximately 3/4 the length of the leaf. Primary veins borderthe perimeter of the leaf.

Petiole.--The petiole is approximately 7.4 cm to 9.7 cm in height fromthe base of the petiole to the base of the leaf blade. The petiole isapproximately 4.0 mm in diameter just below the geniculum, and isstraigh. Two parallel ridges run the length of the upper surface of thepetiole.

Petiole wings.--Petiole wings are approximately 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm inlength and approximately 4.0 mm to 8.0 mm in width at their midpoint.The tips of the petiole wings are rounded. There is approximately 4.5 cmto 7.2 cm between the top of the wing and the base of the geniculum.

Geniculum.--The geniculum is approximately 4 mm to 9 mm in length, andapproximately 6 mm in diameter. The color is 147 C.

Lobes.--The leaf has two rounded lobes which are flush with thepetiole/leaf juncture or extend only slightly past the juncture. Thedistance from the petiole/leaf juncture to the highest point on thelobes is approximately 0.9 cm.

Color.--Upper surface: Darker and greener than, but closest to 137 A.Newly emerged leaves have a bronze cast, darker than but closest to 152A. Lower surface: 146 C-D. Midrib, upper surface: 146 B-C. Midrib, lowersurface: 145 C. Petiole: 146 A-B. Petiole wing: 146 A-B, bordered with187 D.

Roots: Greenish white fleshy roots with fine laterals. The roots are 187A in color when located above the soil.

General observations: `Molly` produces durable cupped round orelliptical red spathes with a red-orange spadix. The inflorescences areheld straight above the foliage on sturdy, dark red-orange peduncles.The leaves are very stiff, leathery, distinctly smooth, and somewhatglossy. The leaf petioles of `Molly` are short, rigid and straight,giving the plant a very compact appearance.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named`Molly`, as illustrated and described.